Apparatus for utilizing wave-power



'(Ko Model.) 2 Sheets-Shet '1.

F. 0. LITTLE. APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING 'WAVB POWER. No. 570,223. Patented001;.27, 1896.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P. 0. LITTLE. APPARATUS FOR UTILIZINGYWAVE POWER.

Patented Oct. 27, 1896.

WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Tn: NORRIS PETERS co PnoTo-urno WASHINGTON0 cf UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS CUMMINGS LITTLE, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING WAVE-POWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 570,223, d t d O t b r27, 1896.

Application filed April 2 2, l 8 9 6- thereof, in which similar lettersof reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to apparatus for utilizing the wave-power of thesea; and the obj ect thereof is to provide an apparatus of this classwhich is adapted to compress the air and to force it into a tank fromwhich it may be taken under pressure and utilized for any desiredpurpose, such as running of light machinery and for similar purposes;and with this and other objects in view the invention consists in theconstruction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, ofwhich the accompanying drawings form a part, in Which Figure 1 is a planview of the apparatus which I employ, parts thereof being shown insection; Fig. 2, a side view, in which parts of the apparatus are alsoin section; Fig. 3, a plan view of a modified form of construction; Fig.4, a side view thereof, and Fig. 5 a side view of a detail of theconstruction.

In the practice of my invention I provide three or more uprights orposts A, but two of which are shown in the drawings, and on the innerside of each of these uprights or posts is a rack-bar a, the teeth ofwhich are projected downwardly, and these uprights or posts are rigidlyand firmly secured to the bottom of the sea adjacent to the coast at anydesired point. I also employ a hollow float B,which maybe composed ofany desired material and be of any preferred form, but which ispreferably cylindrical in form, and the top of which is closed and thebottom open, and communicating with the top of the float B at one sideis a pipe O,which communicates with a tank or other vessel 0 and the endof the pipe O,which communicates with the tank C is provided with avalve Oiwhich opens outwardly or into said tank, and I also employ semiNo. 588,599. (No model.)

I another pipe D, which constitutes an air-inlet, and the endthereof,which communicates with the float B, is provided with a valve d,5 5 which opens inwardly or into the float.

The posts or uprights A are provided with side bars a which serve asguides for the float, and which are adapted to hold the same in acentral position while permitting of the free vertical movement thereof,and connected with each side of the float, near the bottom thereof, areoutwardly-directed arms or projections G,which are arranged in pairs,and between each pair is pivoted a lever g, provided with a head onwhich is formed a projection 9 whichis adapted to operate in connectionwith rack-bars a, and the inner ends of the levers are weighted orenlarged, as shown at g, so as to serve as weights.

I also employ a supplemental float H, which may be composed of anydesired material or constructed in any desired manner, and which isprovided with a depending rod h, to which is pivotally secured twolevers 72 and h which 7 5 project in opposite directions, and which arefulcrumed or pivoted at h to standards secured to the float B, and theouter ends of each of the levers h and 77, is provided with dependingrods or bars 72 and the lower ends of these levers are provided withoutwardlydirected heads h, which are adapted to operate in connectionwith the weighted ends of the levers g and I also employ an auxiliaryfloat K, which is circular in form, and within which the float B isplaced, and the rods or bars h are suspended therethrough, and securedto the opposite sides of the float K are depending arms or rods k, toeach of which is pivotally secured a crank-lever L, said crank-leversbeing pivotally connected with and supported by arms or projectionsM,which are arranged in pairs at each side of the float, and the lowerends of the crank-levers L are clined portion or shoulders orprojections 0, formed on the rods or bars 7?.

It will be understood,as herein-before stated, that three or more of theuprights or posts A or posts is provided with the arms a,by which thecentral float B is guided, and, if necessary or desirable, theprojections or arms G and M may be duplicated to correspond with theadapted to operate in connection with an in- 5 are employed, and thateach of these uprights IOO uprights or posts A, as may also the otherfeatures of the construction.

The operation will be substantially as follows: As the water-level sinksafter each incoming wave the floating cylinder B will sink with it,guided by the arms a, and ordinarily the cylinder or float will be freeto move downwardly, but not to move upwardly, and when the water-levelrises by the reason of an incoming wave the float B is held down by thelevers g operating in connection with the rackbars. 7

The cylinder or float B is full of air when floating freely, as there isa valve (l opening inwardly from the pipe D, which communicates with theoutside atmosphere, and the cylinder or float being held down as thewater rises it compresses the air therein, the valve d closing toprevent the escape thereof, and the valve C opens, allowing thecompressed air to pass into the tank 0 whenever the pressure within thecylinder or float becomes greater than the pressure in said tank.

In order to have this apparatus work when the tide is rising or when thewaves are of unequal or unusual height, the ratchet-levers would have tobe released so as to allow the cylinder to rise a short distance afterthe valve 0 closes, so that the cylinder or float could adjust itself tothe low-water mark of the successive waves, which might not be as low asthat of the previous ones, and for this purpose I provide the floats IIand K and the rods orbars 7L5 and the connected parts 713 and L.

hen the water-level sinks below the float II, said float will sink byits own weight, and this operation raises the rods or bars 7L5, whichthus releases the ratchet-levers g, as will be readily understood, fromthe rackbars 011 the uprights or posts, and the cylinder or float 13immediately rises to its proper position, but before it reaches saidposition the float K will rise out of the water and in the downwardmovementof the float K the levers L will be caused to impinge againstthe inclined portions or shoulders or projec' tions 0 of the rods orbars 76, and this operation will again free the heads 7L6 of said rodsor oars from the weighted ends of the levers g, and thus free saidratchet-levers from their connection with the rack-bars on the posts oruprights A.

\Vhen the water again submerges the floats II and K,they will assume theposition shown in Fig. 1, and the said rods or bars 71,5 will movedownwardly and again engage with the ratchet-levers g. This operationwill be repeated as long as the apparatus is in operation, and by meansthereof it will be apparent that the air will be continually compressedand forced into the tank C and may be employed for any desired purpose.

The cylinder or float B may sometimes be carried down a fewnotches bythe downrush of the waves on the top thereof in spite of the fact thatit is lighter than the water and will float, and to obviate thisobjection Iprovide a modified form of construction, which is shown inFigs. 3, 4, and 5, and which consists of an additional rack-bar R, whichis secured to the uprights or posts A, and pawls or levers R which areprovided with double heads or projections R and which are connected withvertical rods R, which are pivotally connected with a float K. The teethon the rack-bar R are directed upwardly and the lever B is provided withan upwardlydirected head R having an outwardly-directed shoulder R,which is adapted to operate in connection with said rack bar or bars,and the ratchet-lever R is above the float K, and is set when the floatK rises, and is released only when said float is out of water.

The vertical rods R, by which the ratchetlevers R are connected with thefloat K, are slotted at their upper ends, so as to provide a loose jointor coupling with said lever, in order that the machine may moveupwardly, and this lever moves along the teeth without disturbing thefloat, and the ratchet-lever It will of course permit of the upwardmovement of the machine at any time, but will only permit the downwardmovement thereof while the float K is out of water and therefore at itslowest point, and when the float K is in this position it will pull theratchet-1ever R entirely free from the rack-bar R, and the firstratchet, or that hereinbefore described, will permit of a downwardmovement at any time, but will only permit of an upward movement of thefloat or machine when the float II is out of water and the float K stillsubmerged.

In this construction the uprights or posts A differ in form from thatshown in Figs. 1 and 2, and two of the arms a are employed on each side,and said arms are provided with wheels or rollers S, which are adaptedto bear on the adjacent sides of the uprights or posts and to formantifriction-guides by which the float or machine is regulated orretained in proper position between said uprights or posts.

The other features of construction are the same as shown in Figs. 1' and2, and it will be apparent that a number of these machines may bearranged together and located in or inclosed by V-shaped piers whichwill serve as guards or protectors therefor.

My improved wave-power apparatus may be operated by the waves of anylarge body of water, and suitable piers may be employed in connectiontherewith, to which the uprights or posts may be attached, and theapparatus is simple in construction and operation and well adapted toaccomplish the result for which it is intended; and my invention is notlimited to the exact form,"construction, and arrangement of parts hereinshown and described, and I reserve the right to make all suchalterations inand modifications of thesame as .fairlycome within thescope of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, I

ICO

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In an apparatusdesigned for utilizing the wave-power of the sea, and for compressingair, the combination of vertical posts or uprights, ahollow floatarranged between the same, the top of which is closed and the bottomopen, an air-supply pipe communicating therewith, and provided with anautomatic valve which opens inwardly, and a compressed-air pipecommunicating therewith, and with an air-tank and provided with a valvewhich opens outwardly, said float being adapted to rise and fall withthe motion of the waves, substantially as shown and described.

2. In an apparatus for utilizing the wavepower of the sea, bycompressing air, the combination with suitable uprights or posts, of ahollow float which is mounted between said uprights, and which is heldin position by guides connected therewith, and the top of which isclosed and the bottom, open, of an air-supply pipe which communicatestherewith, an air-discharge pipe also communicatin g therewith,and withan air-tank,and means connected with said float and said uprights orposts by which the float is adapted to rise and fall with the motion ofthe waves, substantially as shownand described.

3. In an apparatus for utilizing the wave power of the sea, bycompressing air, the combination with suitable uprights or posts, of ahollow float which is mounted between said uprights, and which is heldin position by guides connected therewith, and the top of which isclosed, and the bottom open, of an air-supply pipe which communicatestherewith, an air-discharge pipe also communicating therewith, and withan air-tank and means connected with said float and said uprights orposts by which the float is adapted to rise and fall with the motion ofthe waves, said float being also provided with a supplemental floatwhich is arranged thereover, and with which are pivotally connectedlevers which extend in opposite directions, and which are fulcrumed tostandards secured to the float, said levers being pivotally connected attheir outer ends with depending rods or bars, the lower ends of whichare provided with heads which are adapted to operate in connection withratchet-levers which are adapted to operate in connection withrack-bars, formed on the uprights, or posts, substantially as shown anddescribed.

at. In an apparatus for utilizing the wavepower of the sea, bycompressing air, the combination with suitable uprights or posts, of ahollow float which is mounted between said uprights, and which is heldin position by guides connected therewith, and the top of which isclosed, and the bottom, open, of an air-supply pipe which communicatestherewith, an air-discharge pipe also communicating therewith, and withan air-tank and means connected with said float and said uprights orposts by which the float is adapted to rise and fall with the motion ofthe waves, said float being also provided with a supplemental floatwhich is arranged thereover, and with which are pivotally connected,levers which extend in opposite directions, and which are fulcrumed tostandards secured to the float, said levers being pivotally connected attheir outer end with depending rods or bars, the lower ends of which areprovided with heads which are adapted to operate in connection withratchet-levers which are adapted to operate in connection withrack-bars, formed on the uprights or posts,and an auxiliary float whichincloses the main float, and which is provided at its opposite sideswith depending arms or rods with which are pivotally connectedcrank-levers which are pivotally supported byarms or project-ions,secured to said float and which are adapted to operate in connectionwith shoulders or projections formed on the rods or bars which areconnected with the supplemental float, substantially as shown anddescribed.

5. In an apparatus designed for utilizing the wave-power of the sea, bycompressing air, the combination with vertical posts or uprights, of ahollow float arranged between the same, the top of which is closed, andthe bottom open, and the top of which is provided with means forsupplying air thereto, and with an air-tank which communicatestherewith, and means connected with said float and said uprights forregulating the movement of the float, and for causing the same to riseand fall with the waves, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname, in pres ence of the subscribing witnesses, this 10th day of March,1896.

FRANCIS CUMMINGS LITTLE.

\Vitnesses:

F. MOKERCHER, MICHAEL ODONNELL.

